News List

Aug. 15, 2014
Here is the latest edition of Week In Review - a series of weekly messages from the Mayor and City Council to help Richardson residents and businesses keep up to date on events at City Hall.

City Council Discusses Budget
City Manager Dan Johnson presented the proposed budget to the City Council at Monday’s work session. The theme of this year’s budget is Sustaining Excellence in Richardson’s “Era of Next,” and it emphasizes a commitment to sustain and enhance Richardson’s excellent service levels in the future. It is supported by a proposed tax rate of $0.63516 per $100 of assessed valuation, unchanged from the 2013-2014 rate.

The City Council will hold public hearings on the proposed tax rate at its meetings Monday, Aug. 18, and Monday, Aug. 25. The Aug. 25 meeting will also include a public hearing on the proposed budget. The City Council is expected to vote on the budget Monday, Sept. 8.

All budget meetings are open to the public. In addition, the meetings are broadcast live on CITV (Channel 16 on Time Warner and Channel 99 on AT&T U-Verse) and on the City website, cor.net. They can also be viewed on-demand online. All budget documents are available online at cor.net/budget.

City to Conduct Ground Spraying for Mosquitoes Tonight
The Richardson Health Department plans to ground spray a single area tonight, weather permitting, in order to help prevent the spread of the West Nile virus. The decision to spray comes after City Health Department workers were notified that a trap located within the subject spraying location returned mosquitoes that tested positive for carrying the disease.

The spray area is from Arapaho Road south to Buckingham Road and Bowser Road east to Jupiter Road. The spraying is scheduled to take place between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m.
This is the first positive test of the year and the City has collected and tested approximately 215 samples.

For more information on Richardson's mosquito abatement program please visit cor.net/mosquito.

City Accepting Applications for Charter Review Commission
The City is accepting applications for the Charter Review Commission through Sept. 1. The commission will be appointed by the City Council in September and October and is expected to meet twice a month for six to nine months to examine the City Charter and recommend changes, if necessary.

Applicants should be able to commit the required volunteer time for board service as well as show an interest in the specific workings of the commission. Board members must be qualified voters of the City who have been residents of Texas for at least one year and residents of the City for at least six months, hold no elected public office and are not in arrears in taxes or other liability due to the City.

All applicants are asked to confirm online submissions with the City Secretary’s Office by calling 972-744-4292.

Learn more and download an application here. Watch a City Council work session discussion about the Charter Review Commission at bit.ly/1l9A118.

Jose Moreno Named Richardson’s Director of Human ResourcesJose Moreno, Assistant Director of Human Resources, has been appointed to succeed to the position as Director of Human Resources for the City of Richardson effective Sept. 1, 2014. City Manager Dan Johnson made the official announcement this morning to City staff. He announced that Moreno will assume the position from Marty Brennan, who is retiring at the end of August.

As Director of Human Resources, Moreno will administer civil service rules and manage the compensation plans and benefits for the City’s 954 full-time and 396 part-time employees. Human resources is also responsible for employee recruitment, risk management and City-wide testing and training.

Moreno has particular skills and experience in job analysis, conducting compensation and classification studies and developing and administering certification and promotional testing programs.

Corporate Challenge Opening Ceremony
The 17th annual Richardson Corporate Challenge will kick off 10 weeks of Olympic-style competition with the opening ceremony, set for 5:30 p.m. today at Galatyn Plaza. The opening ceremony will include tailgate parties organized by the corporate teams, a ceremonial torch lighting, a parade of athletes from Special Olympics Texas and a one-mile “Great Walk” challenge.

Performance Court and Plaza Boulevard was shut down for the opening ceremony at 7 a.m. this morning and will reopen at 11 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Fifty-five DFW-area companies will compete in 22 athletic and non-athletic events. More than 12,000 employees are expected to participate and to help raise funds in support of Special Olympics Texas with 25% being designated to a local affiliate--the event’s beneficiary since its inception. Corporate Challenge is the only corporate competition of its kind in Texas.

The City of Richardson and participating companies have raised more than $1.4 million for Special Olympics Texas and the organization’s local affiliate over the last 16 years, including $184,000 raised during last year’s games.

Corporate Challenge includes competitions in events ranging from athletic sports such as softball, basketball and flag football, to darts, billiards and miniature golf. The Challenge wraps up with a closing ceremony and an announcement of winners Friday, Oct. 17. A full schedule of events may be found online at cor.net/cc, and event updates will be posted on the Corporate Challenge Facebook page at on.fb.me/QMjNBj.

“Elvis Aloha from Hawaii” at Eisemann Center
Kraig Parker and the Royal Tribute Band and Orchestra will perform “Elvis Aloha from Hawaii” at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets cost $27 to $52 and are available by calling 972-744-4540 or visiting eisemanncenter.com. For more information, visit thekinglives.com.

See “Menopause the Musical” at Eisemann Center
“Menopause the Musical” is extending its run at the Eisemann Center through Aug. 31. The award-winning show is a celebration of women who are on the brink of, in the middle of, or have survived “the change.” Tickets cost $41.50 to $46.50 and may be purchased by calling 972-744-4650 or visiting eisemanncenter.com. For more information, visit menopausethemusical.com.

Watch THE HIT MEN on KERA and See Them Live at the Eisemann Center
Next Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. you can sing along with the true Jersey Boys as KERA airs THE HIT MEN concert special during the August Membership Drive. Lee Shapiro and Gerry Polci were two of Frankie Valli's Four Seasons. Jim Ryan was a founding member of the Critters and Larry Gates and Russ Velasquez have been singing and playing on hit records for decades for artists like Carole King and more.

After decades behind the scenes, these great artists have united to form THE HIT MEN and they will perform live at the Eisemann Center Saturday, Nov. 22. Get a preview on KERA and reserve your tickets for the Eisemann Center show.

Single tickets are on sale now and flex packages for four shows or more are still available (at a 10-20% discount). Tickets to The HIT MEN performance range from $39-$59 and are available by calling 972-744-4540 or visiting eisemanncenter.com. For more information, visit thehitmenlive.com.

Richardson Community Band to Perform Free Concert
The Richardson Community Band will present “Summer Season Finale” at a free concert beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday on the lawn of the Civic Center, 411 W. Arapaho Rd. Selections include “Sound of Music,” “Deep in the Heart of Texas” and “Semper Fidelis.”

Families are invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets and a picnic supper and to enjoy an evening of music. Learn more and see a full schedule of free summer concerts at richardsoncommunityband.org.

Seniors’ Net to Host Free Seminar on Caregivers
Seniors’ Net will hold a free seminar on “The Importance of Caregivers” at 10 a.m. Tuesday at NETWORK of Community Ministries, 741 S. Sherman St. RSVP by calling 972-234-8880, ext. 118.

NETWORK holds free seminars each month featuring a topic of interest to seniors. The next event is “More about Social Security” on Sept. 16.

Lone Star Mint Show
The Lone Star Mint will hold a coin show until 7:30 p.m. tonight, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Richardson Civic Center. The free event will feature more than 50 dealers from several states and provide opportunities to buy, sell and trade. The show will also include free appraisals, door prizes and coin supplies. For more information, visit lsmint.com/LSMCoinShow.html.

Free Events at the Library This Week
The Richardson Public Library will host two free events this week. Children in kindergarten through fourth grade can read to Heart of Texas therapy dogs from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Tales for Tails in the Children’s Program Room. Learn more by calling 972-744-4358.
A Lunchtime Lectures series on “Team of Rivals” will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Tuesday in the Basement Program Room. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lunch as they listen to a presentation from Richard Cudlipp from Collin College’s Seniors Active in Learning Program. Registration is not required. The series will continue on Aug. 26 and Sept. 2.

Pet Adoption Fees Waived Saturday
The Richardson Animal Shelter is waiving pet adoption fees for adoptable pets six months and older from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday as part of the inaugural “Empty the Shelter” event. Dozens of shelters across the Metroplex will waive fees that day, creating the largest adoption effort ever held in North Texas.

Approximately 5,000 pets will be available for adoption at 33 North Texas-area shelters during the seven-hour period. A $5 registration fee for Richardson residents will still apply. Learn more at emptytheshelter.org, and view animals available for adoption at the Richardson Animal Shelter at cor.net/animalservices.

Dog Splash Day Set for Saturday
The annual Dog Splash Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, at Terrace Pool, 300 N. Lois Ln.

Admission is $5 per dog. No pre-registration is required, and dogs must have a current rabies vaccination to enter. The event is sponsored by Richardson AnimaLuv, which supports the Richardson Animal Shelter.

Richardson Animal Shelter Pet of the Week

Anna came to the Shelter in June after Richardson Police found her abandoned in the back yard of a vacant home. She was found with a large chain and padlock around her neck. She has been spayed, vaccinated, dewormed and tested heartworm negative. She has the sweetest personality and loves to play, loves people and other pets.